Casgliadau Arlein

Silver strap-end with incised zoomoorphic designs, set against a niello background. The sides are of slightly convex form and the border is notched to form a coarsly beaded band. The split attachment end has two circular rivet holes (one retaining a rivet), below which is a centrally placed, incised, trilobate palmette motif. There is a main centrally placed panel of two intertwined sinuous creatures with forelegs, heads in profile with single ears and dots for eyes, whose bodies have devolved into ribbon-like interlace. Each beast bites the body of the other. The strap-end terminates in a stylised animal head with circular ears; incisions around raised dots represent the eyes; there is a disjointed, stylized trilobate palmette motif on the brow. The back is plain. The strap-end reflects an abstract aspect of the Trewhiddle style of Anglo-Saxon ornamental metalwork of the second half of the ninth century. The surfaces show evidence of wear, and modern polishing.

LI1.7